World News Quick Take

Agencies

UNited States

‘Excorcist’ moms indicted

Two Maryland women have been indicted in the stabbings of four children in what authorities say the women believed was an exorcism. Twenty-eight-year-old Zakieya Avery and 21-year-old Monifa Sanford were indicted on Thursday on two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Avery’s 18-month-old son and two-year-old daughter in January at a home in Germantown, Maryland, outside Washington. They were also indicted on two counts of attempted first-degree murder in an attack on Avery’s five-year-old daughter and eight-year-old son. Prosecutors have said the women told investigators they believed evil spirits moved between the bodies of the children and an exorcism was needed to drive the demons out.

UNited States

Baby gorilla has surgery

Veterinarians at the San Diego Zoo have performed an operation on a newborn gorilla that was delivered by Caesarean section. The zoo says the 2kg female was born on Wednesday, but seemed to have breathing problems. On Friday morning, a team fixed a collapsed lung that probably occurred during delivery. The medical team included vets and two doctors who usually work on humans. The gorilla will be monitored around the clock as she recovers. The mother gorilla, named Imani, had never given birth. The zoo says an emergency C-section was performed because she was in distress after going into labor.

Canada

Spacey bashes Rob Ford

Toronto’s combative mayor claimed on Friday that he would not know actor Kevin Spacey “if I ran over him,” a week after the House of Cards star poked fun at Rob Ford when both appeared on a late-night talk show. Ford’s brother called the actor “an arrogant SOB.” The reason for their displeasure? Spacey cracked several jokes at the mayor’s expense when he appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live on March 2 shortly after a brief cameo by Ford. “That’s the first time I’ve had to follow a Ford,” Spacey quipped. “And one that was so banged up.” Ford has been under great pressure to resign since he admitted smoking crack last year, and several videos have emerged that showed him seemingly drunk or high. City Council stripped him of many of his powers, but does not have the authority to remove him. Undaunted, Ford has vowed to run for re-election this fall. The Ford brothers took on Spacey during their show on YouTube named after the mayor’s supporters, who he refers to as “Ford Nation.” Rob and Doug Ford complained that they were told they could not talk to, or have their picture taken with Spacey.

Canada

Russian diplomat stabbed

A Russian diplomat was stabbed on Friday in the capital following a drunken quarrel, official said. Ottawa police said they responded to an emergency call at 8:43am about a stabbing near the Russian embassy and found a 44-year-old man suffering from “stab wounds.” The victim was taken to hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries, while a second man was taken into custody for questioning. The Ottawa Citizen daily reported that the two men had been drinking in an apartment a few blocks from the Russian mission when an argument broke out. The diplomat was stabbed in the arm and back and fled to the lobby, where he was found by police, according to the report. The victim was reportedly drunk and belligerent with authorities, claiming initially that he had been bitten by a dog.